Achievement and service take center stage as the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine honors the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Class of 2026. Each year, students, staff and faculty are recognized for their excellence in shaping our patient care, research, academics and community. These awards reflect the collective strength of the CU Dental community. Honorees were formally recognized during the graduation banquet and awards ceremony.
Student Awards
- Academy of Dental Materials Award: Natalie Anderson
- Academy of General Dentistry Future Leader in General Dentistry Award: Riley Spillar
- Academy of Operative Dentistry Award: Kyler Garrison
- Advanced Clinical Training and Service Program Award: Yoona Kim
- The Alpha Omega International Fraternity Award: Stephanie Qi
- American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award: Sarah Estrada
- American Academy of Implant Dentistry Dental Student Award: Paige Hofstad
- American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dental Student Award: Madison Amspacker
- American Academy of Oral Medicine Certificate of Merit Award: Riley Spillar
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Certificate of Merit Award: Kyler Garrison
- American Academy of Periodontology Dental Student Award: Emily Bui
- American Association of Orthodontists Student Dental Award: Sydney Cabrera
- American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award: Molly Carmichael
- American College of Dentists Student Award: Bridget Bailey
- American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Horace Wells Award: Cody Leong
- American Equilibration Society Award: Cody Leong
- American Student Dental Association Award: Natalie Anderson
- Brasseler USA Award: Rubi Diaz Delgado
- Brasseler USA Award: Stephanie Qi
- Brian D. Stone Memorial Award: Andrew Bigelow
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Award: Tanner Boatman
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Award: Yoona Kim
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Award: Riley Spillar
- The Colorado Prosthodontic Society Award: Riley Spillar
- Community Impact & Advanced Clinical Training Award: Mia Kleusner
- Dr. Barry Beauvais/Special Care Dentistry Association Award: Henry Dunkleberger
- Dr. Kenneth Grove/Memorial of the Dental Foundation of Colorado Award: Julia Sakiewicz
- Dr. Miles Markley Delta Sigma Delta Award: Taylor Kluttz
- Dr. Solomon Averbach Humanitarian Award: Jaidaa Elbezry
- Dr. Thomas J. Bomberg Memorial Award: Zachary Reber
- Hanau Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics: Lajessie Dinh
- International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award: Summer Booth
- International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award: Riley Spillar
- International Congress of Oral Implantologists/Sullivan Schein Dental Predoctoral Achievement Award: Hien Tran
- The Pierre Fauchard Academy Senior Student Award: Stephanie Qi
- Predoctoral Student Achievement Award in Endodontics: Yoona Kim
- Predoctoral Student Prosthodontic Achievement Award: Julia Sakiewicz
- Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry: Samira Kiwan
- Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievements in Periodontics: Andrew Snow
- Quintessence Award for Research Achievement: Brittany Meola
- Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry Award: Yoona Kim
- Special Care Dentistry – Geriatrics Award: Chau Le
- Special Care Dentistry – Persons with Disabilities Award: Henry Dunkleberger
- Western Society of Periodontology Award: Yoona Kim
Omicron Kappa Upsilon
Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) is dentistry's most prestigious honor society, recognizing exceptional scholarship, character and professional promise. Inductees from the DDS Class of 2026 include: Madison Amspacker, Natalie Anderson, Noah Booth, Sydney Cabrera, Rubi Diaz Delgado, Yoona Kim, Katherine Larson, Zachary Reber, Stephanie Qi, and Julia Sakiewicz.
This year's OKU faculty inductee is Susan Somerset, DMD, Pharm D, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Community Dentistry and Population Health. Sheryl Blish, executive assistant for the School of Dental Medicine, is our honorary inductee.
Faculty Awards
The following faculty awards were selected by the graduating class, presented by class vice president Yoona Kim and student affairs representative Madison Anderson at the graduation banquet and awards ceremony.
- Outstanding Preceptor Award: Michael Milos, DDS
- Outstanding Basic Sciences Instructor: Caley Orr, PhD
- Outstanding Didactic Instructor: Kunjan Kakar, DDS (ISP ’10), MS, BDS
- Outstanding Pre-clinical Instructor: James DeLapp, DDS '82, MS
- Outstanding Clinical Instructor: Sophia Khan, DDS
- Outstanding Part-time Faculty: Gary Andreoletti, DDS
- Altruism Faculty Recognition Award: Sophia Khan, DDS
- Chancellor's Teaching Recognition Award: Petros Yoon, DDS '15
- President's Excellence in Teaching Award: Shayna Sengewalt, DDS
Congratulations to the DDS Class of 2026, esteemed faculty and all award recipients.